Storable bed



Sept. 2, 1969 w. 0. DRIVER 3,464,070

STORABLE BED Filed Sept. 14, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet' 1 INVEN'IOR. WILFRID D. DRIVER PATENT AGENTS W. D. DRIVER Sept. 2, 1969 STORABLE BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1967 m? vQ [N VENY UR.

WLFRID D. DRVER [W 1 3 PATENT AGENTS p 1969 w. o. DRIVER 3,464,070

S'I ORABLE BED Filed Sept. 14, 1967 4 SheetsSheet 3 I N VliN '1 0R. WILFRI D D. DRIVER PATENT AGENTS W. D. DRIVER Sept. 2, 1969 STORABLE BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 14, 1967 FIGS PATENT AGENTS United States Patent O US. Cl. -136 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A storable bed is of the type comprising a base frame, a bed frame that swings about a first pivot axis between a vertical stored position and a horizontal sleeping position, arm means which are pivoted to the bed frame about a second pivot axis and counterbalance springs acting between the bed frame and the arm means; the arm means carry bed clothes retaining means that clamp the bedclothes to the bed under the action of the counterbalance springs as the bed frame approaches the stored position, a connection between the arm means and the base frame permitting operation of the clamping means only while the bed frame is a predetermined distance from the stored position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 557,690, filed June 15, 1966, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to beds of the vertically stored type, that is to say, beds of the type which can be moved at will from the usual horizontal sleeping position to a vertical stored position in which they occupy less floor space Such beds may be provided, for example, in a socalled bachelor or bed-sitting room apartment, mounted in a closet into which it can be swung during the daytime and concealed with suitable curtains or doors. In other arrangements the bed may, for example when in the vertical position, be disguised as a piece of furniture (e.g. a wardrobe) or a part of the room itself (e.g. a chimney piece).

The design of such beds presents a number of problems. For example, they should remain positively in the vertical and horizontal positions when placed there, and yet must be provided with some counterbalance means that are sufficiently effective for the bed to be moved safely and easily by one person, who may be elderly and have little strength. In practice the bed must be provided with some means for retaining the bedclothe in a fully made-up position while the bed is vertical, so that it can be made in the morning, swung to the vertical position, and will not require to be remade when returned to the horizontal position. In particular, the bed should be inexpensive and yet attractive in appearance, with the operative mechanism concealed to the maximum extent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new bed of the vertically storable type wherein the counterbalance springs are also effective to operate bedclothes retaining means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bed of the vertically storable type comprising a base frame, a mattress-receiving bed frame pivotally mounted on the base frame about a first pivot for movement between a horizontal sleeping position and a generally vertical stored position, arm means pivoted to the said bed frame about a second pivot between a first position corresponding to said bed frame sleeping position and a second position corresponding to said stored position, bedclothes retaining means carried by said arm means and movable thereby upon corresponding rotation of the arm means about the second pivot between a stored position in which it is generally parallel to the bed frame for retaining engagement with bedclothes on the bed and a sleeping position corresponding to the bed frame sleeping position, spring means providing a bed counterbalance force for the bed and a clamping force for said bedclothes retaining means, means connecting said spring means to the said arm means and the bed frame so that the spring force thereof acts between the arm means and the bed frame to rotate the arm means about the said second pivot to move the bedclothes retaining means towards the bed frame and thereby apply the said clamping force thereto, and also to urge the bed frame for rotation about the first pivot from the sleeping position toward the stored position, and constraining means connected between the base frame and the said arm means for constraining movement of the arm means after a predetermined movement of the bed frame away from the stored position toward the sleeping position, whereby upon further movement of the bed frame toward the sleeping position the bedclothes retaining means are constrained from movement with the bed frame and are thereby disengaged from their clothes retaining relation with the bed frame and retained in their corresponding sleeping position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Vertically storable beds which are particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one side of the top end of a first embodiment, the bed being shown in its lowered position,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation with the bed of FIG- URE 1 in the lowered horizontal operative position,

FIGURES 3 and 4 are views, generally similar to FIG- URE 2, showing respectively the bed in an intermediate position and in a stored vertical position, and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 of a second embodiment.

In all the figures of the drawings parts thereof are broken away as necessary to show the internal structure and operation of the bed. Similar parts are given the same reference in all the figures of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The bed is mounted on a floor 10 by means of a U- shaped base frame of angle iron, comprising a back member 11 and two side members 12, the base frame being securely fastened to the floor as by bolts or screws 13. Decorative side panels 14 are fastened to the side members 12 and conceal the operating mechanism.

The bed frame 15 which receives a conventional box spring 16 and mattress 17 is illustrated as comprising two angle iron side members, a generally z-section end member, and tubular cross members 18, the side members being separable at 19 intermediate their length to permit the bed to be compactly packaged for storage and transport. The top ends of the spring and mattress abut against the top member which has forwardly-extending side members 20 fastened thereto, the side members 15 and 20 being spaced apart, as by a web 21 (FIG. 1), to provide space for entry of the hand in manipulating the bed clothes. A respective box structure 22, open at its vertical rear edge 23 is securely fastened to each side member 20. A pivot pin 24 extends from the outer side face of the structure 22 and engages in a trunnion 25 carried by a vertical post 26 securely fixed to the respective side member of the base frame 12. It will be seen that the weight of the bed frame is supported on the pivot pins 24, and that it is capable of free pivoting movement thereon, between the said vertical stored and horizontal sleeping positions. In the horizontal position the weight of the bed frame is also supported by a pair of legs 27, which are pivoted to respective side frames near to the bottom ends thereof. Each leg has one end of a tension spring 28 connected thereto, the other end of the spring being connected to the respective bed frame side, the connection being such that the spring must be extended to move the leg from both the supportive position (FIG. 2) or the stored position (FIG. 3), and therefore will not permit the leg to remain in an intermediate position.

A pivot pin 29 extends from each side member 20 within the box 22 and has the end of one arm of a Y-shaped member 30 pivoted thereto. The foot of each Y-member is connected to the frame by constraining means constituted by a respective flexible connection, which in this embodiment comprises a chain 31, while the end of the other arm is connected by a pivot 32 to an anchor plate 33 within the box 22. A plurality of tension springs 34 (only two illustrated) within the box 22 have one end connected to the plate 33 and the other end connected to an anchor plate 35 fast with the interior of the box structure.

A generally vertically-extending rod means 36 is attached at its lower end to the foot of each member 30, the two rods being connected together at the upper ends by a cross-bar 37. A downwardly-extending plate 38 is fixed to the bar 37 and carries a pivot pin 39 which mounts a bedclothes retaining board 40 for pivoting movement thereon. The pin 39 is much closer to one end of the board than the other, so that the board 40 is movable under the effect of gravity from a vertical bedclothes retaining position (when it engages the vertical face of an L-shaped stop member 41) and a horizontal concealed position (when it engages the horizontal face of member 41) in which it is concealed behind a decorative headboard 42. The headboard is fastened to a bracket member 43 which is hinged by hinges 44 to the end member 15. Brackets 45 fastened to the back of the headboard 42 are provided with respective slots which embrace the respective rods 36, so that the movement of the board 42 is controlled by the rods. A flexible connection, comprising a chain 46 provided with a shock absorbing/tensioning spring 47, has one end connected to the rear of the board 42 and the other end connected to the rear of the board 40, the connection being such that downward movement of the headboard 42 will cause clockwise rotation of the board 40 from the concealed to the retaining position.

The operation of the bed is as follows:

With the bed in the position as seen in FIGURE 2, the pivot 29, comprising the centre of action of the counterbalance springs 34, is at its position of maximum horizontal spacing and minimum vertical spacing with respect to the support pivot 24, the springs 34 are at their maximum extension, the chain 31 is taut, the headboard 42 is vertical, the chain 46 is slack, while the retainer board 40 is horizontal and concealed behind the board 42. Although the springs are at their maximum extension, the rotative force which they apply to the bed about the pivot 24 is also determined by the vertical spacing between the two pivots 24 and 29. The total rotational force is arranged to be not sufiicient to raise the bed by an adequate mar gin, so that there is no tendency for the bed to lift of its own accord, and yet it can readily be lifted when required by an elderly person or a small child.

As the bed rises toward the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 3, as indicated by the arrow 48, there is a rapid. increase in the said vertical spacing betweenthe pivots 24 and 29, causing a rapid increase in the rotational force applied by the springs; the rotational force is decreased somewhat by the reduction of the spring elongation, but the overall effect is an increase in the force, so that the bed becomes virtually weightless once it has been lifted a few inches off the floor and can be arranged to continue its upward movement virtually of its own accord. At some point in the upward movement the legs 27 rotate to the stored position, as indicated by the arrow 49.

During this movement of the bed frame the headboard 42 is rotated from a position generally perpendicular to the mattress to a position in which it is generally parallel thereto, at which it will engage a pillow (indicated by 50), laid at the head of the bed and hold it in firm engagement with the mattress 17. The headboard has also moved downward, as indicated by the arrow 51, the brackets sliding along the rods 36, thereby initially tightening the chain 46 and thereafter causing the chain to rotate the bedclothes-retaining board 40 about its pivot 39, as indicated by the arrow 52, to the vertical position shown in which it presses on the top surface of the bedding, and holds the bedding and the mattress neatly in place.

As the bed moves further toward the position shown in FIGURE 4, the chain 46 is still taut, being held in that condition by the spring 47, while the chain 31 now becomes slack, so that the springs 34 are no longer attempting to rotate the bed, but instead are effective to press the boards 42 and 40 (particularly the latter) respectively into strong engagement with the pillow and the bedclothes and hold them firmly in place on the mattress. During this final stage of the upward movement thesaid vertical spacing does not change, the springs reach their minimum extension and the rotative force is now at a minimum, while the horizontal spacing is now approximately at a minimum. As seen from FIGURE 4, the bed frame is arranged to tilt backwards a small amount in its final position, so that the bed is now held in this position by gravity and there is no possibility of it swinging downward of its own accord.

As the bed is swung from the vertical storage to the horizontal sleeping position the sequence of events is reversed. The boards 42 and 40 are held by the counterbalance springs in firm engagement with the pillow and bedclothes until the bed frame has rotated sufliciently for the chain 31 to become taut, and thereafter they are moved under the action of the chain away from such engagement. As the headboard 42 pivots to its vertical position it also moves upward along the rods 36, permitting the board 40 to rotate under the effect of gravity to the horizontal concealed position. The springs have their minimum effect while the bed is moved through its truly vertical position, but rapidly become very effective thereafter until the bed is nearly in its horizontal position, becoming less elfective in the fully horizontal position, so that the bed moves positively to that position.

The embodiment of FIGURE 5 is functionally equivalent to that of FIGURES 1 to 4, but'is of considerably simpler construction. Thus the springs 34 are connected between a member 35 integral with the side member 20 and an anchor plate 33 which is pivotally connected to an L-shaped member 30 at the junction of the two arms thereof. The pivot 29 is located at the free end of one arm of the member 30, while the chain connector 31 is connected thereto adjacent the free end of the other arm.

The other major difference between the two embodiments is that the bedclothes retaining board is not concealed in the operative position of the bed, but is of decorative shape and appearance and remains always in view. In this embodiment the board is pivotally mounted, by means of a pin 39 on an upstanding rod 38 fixed to the cross bar 37, for rocking movement in the directions of the arrows 50, so that the board will accommodate itself to the outline of the bedclothes as it contacts them. The pin 39 is above the centre of gravity of the board so that it will always return automatically to the position illustrated. The parts 36 to 39 comprise a unitary structure that is removably mounted in sockets 51 at the free ends of the arm members 30.

It will now be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive but highly effective construction in which a single set of springs not only oppose the weight of the bed with a desired opposition characteristic, but also are arranged at the appropriate attitude of the bed to operate the bedclothes retaining means. Moreover, by mounting the operating mechanism in two simple individual units at each side of the bed I am able to mass produce them as individual operating units that can be applied to beds of different widths and lengths. For example, with a bed and headboard of a specific width all that need to be changed in the base frame is to provide two new transverse members 11 and 37 of the required width. By the use of multiple springs the force exerted by each spring assembly can readily be adjusted by providing a suitable choice of springs of different strengths and/or by adding or eliminating springs.

It will also be apparent that I have provided a structure which can be disassembled and accommodated for shipping and storage in a compact space. For example, the particular embodiments described herein can accommodate a full size mattress measuring 78" x 54", and yet can be packed for shipping in a carton measuring 63 x 24". It will be understood that particular embodiments only of the invention have been shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A bed of the vertically storable type comprising a base frame, a mattress-receiving bed frame pivotally mounted on the base frame about a first pivot for movement between a horizontal sleeping position and a generally vertical stored position, arm means pivoted to the said bed frame about a second pivot between a first position corresponding to said bed frame sleeping position and a second position corresponding to said stored position, bedclothes retaining means carried by said arm means and movable thereby upon corresponding rotation of the arm means about the second pivot between a stored position in which it is generally parallel to the bed frame for retaining engagement with bedclothes on the bed and a sleeping position corresponding to the bed frame sleeping position, spring means providing a bed counterbalance force for the bed and a clamping force for said bedclothes retaining means, means connecting said spring means to the said arm means and the bed frame so that the spring force thereof acts between the arm means and the bed frame to rotate the arm means about the said second pivot to move the bedclothes retaining means towards the bed frame and thereby apply the said clamping force thereto, and also to urge the bed frame for rotation about the first pivot from the sleeping position toward the stored position, and constraining means connected between the base frame and the said arm means for constraining movement of the arm means after a predetermined movement of the bed frame away from the stored position toward the sleeping position, whereby upon further movement of the bed frame toward the sleeping position the bedclothes retaining means are constrained from movement with the bed frame and are thereby disengaged from their clothes retaining relation with the bed frame and retained in their corresponding sleeping position.

2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said first and second pivots are spaced from one another and the said spring means connecting means so connect the spring means to the arm means and the bed frame that the spring force urges the second pivot to rotate about the first pivot to urge the bed frame for said rotation about the first pivot.

3. A bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said constraining means comprise a pair of flexible connectors each disposed at a respective side of the bed frame, and

each connected at one end to the base frame and at the other end to the said arm means, the said flexible connectors being slack over the said predetermined movement of the bed frame away from its stored position to permit the said spring means to rotate the arm means about the second pivot for the application of the said clamping force to the bedclothes retaining means.

4. A bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said arm means comprise a pair of generally Y-shaped arm members disposed at respective sides of the bed frame and each having one arm thereof pivoted to the said second pivot, the said constraining means connecting the foot of each Y-shaped member to the said base frame, and the said spring connecting means connecting the spring means between the bed frame and the other arm of the Y-shaped member.

5. A bed frame as claimed in claim 4, and comprising a respective hollow box attached to each side of the bed frame at its head, each box opening at its rear end toward the head of the frame, at least one spring accommodated in each box and attached at one end adjacent the front end of the box, wherein the respective second pivot is disposed within the box, the respective Y-shaped member has the ends of its arms protruding into the box through the said open rear end, and the respective first pivot is mounted on the corresponding side of the box.

6. A bed as claimed in claim 2, and comprising a head board having a front and rear face, pivot means pivoting the head board to the bed frame about a horizontal axis for movement between sleeping and stored positions corresponding respectively to the sleeping and stored positions of the bed frame, extension arm means rigidly connected to the said arm means and extending into the neighbourhood of the head board, and bracket means on the said head board connecting the said extension arm means and the head board whereby the movement of the bed frame between its said positions produces corresponding relative movement of the extension arm means and the head board which constrains the latter to move between its corresponding sleeping and stored positions.

7. A bed as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said arm means comprise a pair of spaced arms each pivoted to a respective side of the bed frame, the said extension arm means comprise a pair of rods each attached at one end to a respective arm at a point spaced from the second pivot and extending generally vertically therefrom in the neighbourhood of the head board, and the said bracket means are fastened to the head board and are slidable downwardly along the respective rod as the bed moves from the sleeping to the stored position and thereby constrains the head board to move from its corresponding stored position to its sleeping position as the bed frame moves about the second pivot relative to the arm means.

8. A bed as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said bedclothes retaining means comprise a board pivoted to the said extension arm means at the rear of the head board for movement between a stored position in which it extends beyond the head board generally parallel thereto, and a sleeping position in which it is concealed behind the head board, and connecting means connected between the said board and the head board and constraining the board to move to the said stored position when the head board is moved relative to the said extension arm means to its corresponding stored position.

9. A bed as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said bedclothes retaining board pivot is so displaced from the centre of gravity of the board that it will rotate under the effect of gravity to the said sleeping position, and comprising stop means for retaining the board in either the said sleeping or stored position, and flexible connecting means connected between the retaining means and the head board to move the board against the effect of gravity to its stored position upon corresponding movement of the head board to its stored position.

10. A bed as claimed in claim 2, and comprising two transversely spaced legs, each pivoted to the bed frame adjacent the foot thereof for movement between supported and stored positions corresponding respectively to the sleeping and stored positions of the bed frame and movable from one position to the other under gravity and spring action, and spring means for each leg providing the said spring action, each spring means being connected between the bed frame and its respective leg to have its maximum extension in a position between the said supported and stored positions so that the spring means positively moves the leg into the position towards which the leg is moving.

11. A bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said arm means comprise a pair of arm members each disposed at a respective side of the bed frame and each pivoted to the said second pivot, the said constraining means connecting each arm member to the said base frame, and the said spring connecting means connecting the spring means between the bed frame and the arm members.

12. A bed as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said arm member is pivoted at one end to the said second pivot, the said constraining means connects the other end of each arm member to the said base frame, and the Spring connecting means connects the spring means to each arm member between the said second pivot and the point of connection of the constraining means to the arm member. 13. A bed as claimed in claim 12, wherein each said arm member is two-armed of generally L-shape, and the spring connecting means connects, the spring means to the arm member in the neighbourhood of the junction of the said two arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,763 5/ 1927 Bayer 5-164 X 1,953,018 3/1934 Lauterstein 5-136 2,607,046 8/1952 Driver 5164 2,747,202 5/1956 Driver 5136 X 3,046,572 7/1962 Eames et a1. 5-136 3,179,956 4/1965 Bennett 5164 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5--164 

